When people think of everyday heroes, firefighters and police officers usually come to mind.

But Ronald Wheeler, an Athens-Clarke sanitation worker, made a case Wednesday to add garbagemen to that list. Within two hours, he stopped one Athens family's house from burning down then continued with his original plan - donating blood to the American Red Cross.

Wheeler was finishing up his route on Williams Drive about 1:15 p.m. and had just turned to leave the Tallassee Road neighborhood, when he heard a boy yelling that his house was on fire.

Wheeler grabbed a garden hose and ran to the kitchen door of 113 Williams Drive, where he found an out-of-control grease fire on the stove and spreading to the cabinets.

"I was just standing at the door," Wheeler said. "I was able to reach the fire from there. And I just kept spraying it until it was out."

When Athens-Clarke firefighters arrived, most of the fire was extinguished. They sprayed down and removed the stove's ventilation hood and cabinets, then took down the kitchen ceiling to make sure the fire hadn't spread into the attic.

"They did a great job," Battalion Chief Marc Freeman said of Wheeler and Walter Cook, a fellow solid waste worker who showed up to help with the fire. "They definitely helped us out by being here so quickly. I told them if they ever want to be firefighters, we'll take them."

The house suffered heavy smoke and fire damage in the kitchen and light smoke damage throughout the house.

Shelia Issac, who first tried to extinguish the flames when her lunch caught fire, was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation, Freeman said.

Orlando Wallace, the boy who first called out to Walker for help, said he was glad Walker still was in the neighborhood when the fire broke out.

"I want to tell him thanks for saving most of what we've got," Orlando said.

Wheeler was happy he was able to help.

"We turned around and were heading out of the neighborhood," he said. "I was on my way to give blood, and (Cook) had just come by to pick me up. Two minutes later, and we would have been gone."